Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Adam Eaton visits Valley hospital

PHOENIX — Patients at the Barrow’s Neurological Rehabilitation Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital will have a good memory from Wednesday after a special visitor stopped by.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Adam Eaton dropped in to sign autographs and visit with the patients.

Howard Gwynn is a rodeo worker from Yuma who sustained broken vertebrae and a bruised spine when his horse bucked him off. He said. his doctors tell him he faces one and a half years of rehab, but should make an “almost” complete recovery.

Howard Gwynn was glad Eaton stopped by.

“I enjoyed talking to him for sure,” he said. “But I am way more fortunate than a lot of people who are here. For those people in particular, I think it’s a very good thing that they do this.”

Gwynn is a rodeo worker from Yuma, Ariz., who sustained broken vertebrae and a bruised spine when his horse bucked him off. He said his doctors told him he faces one-and-a-half years of rehab, but should make an “almost” complete recovery.

Eaton is on the injured list with a strained UCL. After meeting with these patients, he said his problems seem petty.

“Every day that they get to walk, or step off on a box, it’s amazing,” he said. “We’re here worrying about money, or what may happen tomorrow and these people can’t even walk. It’s something special to come in here. I think that they’re doing more for me than I am for them, for sure.”

Eaton said he hopes to visit with these patients again. Next time, he hopes they’re visiting him at Chase Field, and that they’re fully recovered and enjoying a Diamondbacks game.